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A speoial meeting of the Land Board for the Land District of Auckland was held at the Principal Land Office of the district on the Bth June, 1904, at 10 a.m. Present: Mr. Mackenzie (in the chair), Mr. Renshaw, Mr. Harris, Mr. Armstrong, Mr. Greenslade. The Chairman stated that this special meeting was in accordance with the notice contained in the pamphlet on the Matamata Settlement sale, at which selectors were notified they had to appear personally to answer any questions the Board might desire to ask. Applicants must be prepared to produce for the satisfaction of the Board documentary evidence of the means which they possess for stocking and working the land. A large number of selectors appeared before the Board and were examined minutely as to their means, and, iv cases where they were unable to produce documentary evidence as to their means, were called upon to obtain telegraphic or written certificates from a bank, Post-Office Savings-Bank, &c, as to the amounts lying to their credit. In several cases individual members of the Board personally guaranteed selectors' fitness and financial means. The Board adjourned at 6 p.m. until Thursday. The Laud Board met at 10 a.m. at the same place on the 9th June, 1904. Present : All members ; Commissioner in chair. The examination by members of selectors was continued. The applicants for the homestead were minutely examined. After some discussion as to raising the minimum to £2,500 as necessary to work the homestead, it was unanimously resolved that the original minimum of £2,000, as agreed to on the Tuesday, be fixed as the minimum capital required to successfully work the homestead. Each application was then considered separately on its merits, and the following decision arrived at: — Mr. James Poff: Rejected on account of shortage of capital and lacking in experience. D. A. McKay: Rejected on account of deficient capital. Mrs. McKay: Deficient capital. Angus McKay: Deficient capital. Andrew McKay : Deficient capital. Mrs. J. Maisey: The Board regretted having to reject her application. Though thoroughly experienced, it is felt that her capital is insufficient to successfully carry on the farm. Mrs. F. McCaw: Deficient in experience and capital. W. McCaw: Deficient in capital. John McCaw: The Board approved of his application, as he possessed sufficient capital and experience to successfully work the homestead. The Board adjourned at 6.45 p.m. until Friday, 10th June, 1904. On Friday, the 10th June, 1904, the Board met and adjourned to the Sailors' Mission Hall, •Albert Street, to hold the first ballot for allotments in the Matamata Estate, as advertised in the local papers. Present: Mr. Mackenzie (in the chair), Mr. Renshaw, Mr. Harris, Mr. Greenslade, Mr. Armstrong. Tlie ballot was conducted by the officers of the Department, presided over by the Commissioner of Crown Lands, in the presence of the members of the Land Board and a large number of the selectors themselves. The ballot closed at 1 p.m., and the Land Board adjourned to the Principal Land Office of the district, where they sat to receive fresh applications, and to adjust individual cases of exchange, the result of the ballot. William Goodwin, who applied for Section 17, Subdivision 2, and drew Section 12, asked for refund of deposit, as Section 12 was not suitable for his wants. It was resolved to allow William Goodwin to withdraw from Section 12 and obtain the refund of his deposit on the understanding that Richard Smith applied for Section 12. It was resolved to allow Mr. J. F. Vercoe, who drew Section 126, Subdivision 20, to exchange with A. D. Anderson, who drew Section 121 of the same subdivision. Mr. Basin objected to take up Section 85, Subdivision 14, and Mr J. W. Simpson, who was struck out of the ballot, expressed his willingness to take the same. It was resolved to allow the exchange to be made, Mr. Basin to be returned his deposit, and J. W Simpson to adjust any differences in the deposits with the Receiver of Land Revenue. It was resolved to empower the Commissioner to adjust an exchange between T. Fitzgerald, who obtained Section 83, Subdivision 37, and W. McFadden, who obtained Section 79 of the same subdivision, on both parties being agreeable. It was resolved to allow John Cranslin to take up Section 10, Subdivision 14, in place of D. S. Robertson. As Mr. Simms first drew Section 57 of Subdivision 26, this left Section 56 available for Mr. Timms and Section 55 for Mr. Young, in accordance with their applications. It was resolved on reconsideration to allot Section 56 to Mr. Timms and Section 55 to Mr. Young. It was resolved that all the successful applicants for sections in the Matamata Estate that were balloted for or arranged or otherwise up to 4 p.m. of this day be approved, but that the selector of Section 133, Subdivision' 21, be informed'that his application "is approved subject to the Commissioner determining the right of ingress and egress to the track passing the homestead on Section 131, and through Section 132 to the main road, and also subject to his fixing